HID to LED conversion

I just purchased and installed the LEDs that arileee linked. Clipped the ends and crimped on female terminals following Lloyd-ss pictures . I didn't experience any static/interference, so I didn't have to do any shielding.

@ariklee , can you give an update and let us know how your LEDs have held up?

@Lloyd-ss , same thing. Can you give an update how yours have held up?

I'm tempted to buy an extra set to have them available in case they ever burn out and I have to replace them in the future.

.

 

I am still running this unit in my car ->

I actually only have 1 installed. Installed one to compare it to HID one and ended up forgetting to install the other side. Every time I visit the forum, I am reminded then promptly forget. Previously the HID was going out so much and so often I figured the other HID would go out so soon that I would be forced to replace it. Now I am wondering how long the last HID bulb will last.

 

My Prius gen2 LED light.

 

What models are these, and where did you get them?

 

I've got a 2004 Prius (base model) with HID and the left headlight assembly must be replaced as well as the ballast (going out every hour but restarts when I turn the headlights off and on). Since I have to get one new headlight assembly and probably a ballast would it be less expensive to change both lights out for and aftermarket LED solution, are there less expensive solutions out there? Any constructive guidance is appreciated!

As a side note, this is my first hybrid and this forum has been invaluable. I got it from an insurance pool, undrivable and now I'm driving it everywhere. I have been able fix the inverter overheating, rebuild the battery blades with 18650 cells, recover from the triangle of death and add bluetooth streaming.

 

I would say I have been happy with switching to a LED light. It was very inexpensive and was at least 95% equal brightness of the HID.. I think I paid $45. For me I just took out the old bulb pushed the HID cap to the side, then connected into the 12V line coming in from the black cover cap. I can switch back to HID if I so desired. Since the ballast on my left side went out I actually removed the HID connector. On my right side, I left it in play, thinking I would always be able to compare LED to HID at a drop of a cap.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. Since the drivers side headlight assembly is broken would I be able to purchase a cheaper non-HID assembly and install the LED bulb? The HID fixtures are hard to find and expensive

 

Yes, it is cheaper to go the Non-HID way. I had already paid for newish used lights (so I could get a replacement ballast) , but you would need to figure out how to connect the HighBeam etc as if I recall that wiring might be different between the lights. Also since the LED was designed to work in an HID enclosure I am not sure if you would use the same type of LEDS or not.

I was looking for a quick solution that was reversible.

 

Time to shed some light on an old thread.

These are the LED bulbs I purchased from Headlight Experts for $99. That's more than some bulbs from Amazon. They came well shielded and did not cause radio interference.


The bulbs are a direct fit. 1/4" spade terminals had to be crimped onto the original power supply wires.


Here's what the low beams look like.



And the high beams.

 

How long did the whole exercise take you?

 

i hope to get 224k miles on my gen 2 just like yours! 140k to go

 

That sure looks tempting.
So basically all you do is unplug the old light and plug in the new one? Does the old ballast stay?

 

thanks
I sure wish these aftermarket vendors would take the time to post YouTube tutorials for their products. Or incentivize their customers to do so. They'd end up selling more products

 

It seems to me that any vendor should have a video given that they or a customer must have installed it in one vehicle and that all is needed is a cell phone or cheap camera to produce it. YouTube distribution of the video is free. Even when problems are encountered during the install that is helpful to see.
It costs hundreds of thousands of dollars or more to get a product out the door but can’t afford to spend a few bucks to produce a video should be a red flag.
I’ve talked recently to a number of vendors and they don’t even want to be proactive enough to contact service shops to seed a large metropolitan market. Doing it the first time is a real PiTA especially with the requirements for small space on passenger side access. A video is very helpful.

 

@dddcr8024
Kito bi led You are on the right track!

 

Wasn’t exactly my point. I’ve spoken to a few vendors, not manufacturers, who tell me it’s easy but cannot identify one commercial shop who’ve done it so I can call them and get it done. I don’t want to learn the hard way how to do something that I may never do again, and risk causing collateral damage, that’s why I’d like to see it done. That way I decide if it’s something I want to try or just pay someone to do. I’d gladly pay a shop $100 to install a $100 item for a total of $200 of it save me four hours of my time.